The leaders following the Late President Mandela have been met with mixed success.

The second President of South Africa was Thabo Mbeki. He instituted reforms known as BEE or Black Economic Empowerment. It was a redistribution of assets and actually grew a Middle Class. 

The guiding principles of several African nations was laid down in "The Freedom Charter." It enumerates the equality of race and language.

The flame of freedom in the Freedom Charter Monument in Kliptown, in the Johannesburg metropolitan area. The flame was lit in June 2005 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Charter.

The Freedom Charter existed long before there were free elections in South Africa. It can be compared somewhat to the Declaration of Independence but perhaps more like the Magna Carta, protecting the rights of people under a government rule.

The Freedom Charter is not exclusive to South Africa. It formed a Congress of African nations seeking reform and equality.

Mbeki was criticized for his lack of influence with Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Rather than taking on Mugabe he provided a safe haven for refugees and took a more diplomatic approach in attempting to promote human rights and equality. Eventually, Nigeria, Australia, and South Africa would suspend Zimbabwe from "The Commonwealth," an economic alliance of former British territories.

His position on HIV/AIDS was very controversial. With an estimated 850,000 people infected which was 2.1% of the total population of South Africa, then President Mbeki stated was not caused by HIV. As a result some 350,000 South Africans perished because he refused to treat with anti-retroviral medications.

He fell into scandal similar to that of the current President Zuma, resigned from the Presidency and was later dismissed of the charges.